Grilled Peaches: Best Cheeses For A Sweet And Savory Treat

Grilled peaches are a delicious treat, especially when paired with cheese. The sweetness of the fruit is enhanced by grilling, and the addition of cheese provides a savoury contrast. A range of cheeses can be used, including soft walnut, goat, blue, burrata, mascarpone, and Gorgonzola. Grilled peaches with cheese can be served as an appetizer, side dish, or light dessert, and are perfect for summer entertaining. They can also be enjoyed as a grilled cheese sandwich, with the addition of honey creating a sweet and savoury combination.

Grilled peaches with blue cheese and balsamic vinegar

Ingredients:

• Ripe freestone peaches (2 large or 4 small)
• Olive oil or grapeseed oil
• Blue cheese (2.5 ounces or 2 tablespoons)
• Balsamic vinegar (1/4 cup or 2 tablespoons)
• White sugar (3 tablespoons)
• Freshly ground black peppercorns (2 teaspoons)
• Fresh herbs (optional)

Method:

• Preheat your grill to a medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grate with olive oil or grapeseed oil.
• Halve the peaches and remove the pits. Drizzle or brush the cut sides of the peaches lightly with oil.
• Place the peaches, cut-side down, on the grill. Grill for approximately 1 minute or until slightly charred. For attractive grill marks, rotate the peaches halfway through cooking.
• Remove the peaches from the grill and place small pieces of blue cheese in the indent where the pits were. Allow the cheese to melt slightly.
• Transfer the peach halves to serving dishes. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper. Garnish with fresh herbs, if desired.
• Serve warm and enjoy the combination of sweet, smoky peaches and tangy, creamy blue cheese!

This dish can be served as an appetizer or a light dessert. For a more decadent option, you can even add a drizzle of honey or a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.

Grilled peach and white cheddar grilled cheese sandwich

Grilled peaches are a delightful treat, and when paired with cheese, they become a mind-blowing dish. The sweetness of the peaches is enhanced by the grilling process, and the addition of cheese creates a scrumptious combination of sweet and savoury flavours.

For a grilled peach and white cheddar grilled cheese sandwich, you'll need the following ingredients:

• 2 ripe peaches
• 4 slices of sourdough bread (or another sturdy bread of your choice)
• 2-4 tablespoons of ricotta cheese (optional)
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 4 slices of white cheddar cheese (add more if you like it extra cheesy!)
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 4 slices of crispy bacon (optional)

Here's how to make this delicious sandwich:

• Peel and slice the peaches and set them aside.
• Spread ricotta cheese on the bread slices. This step is optional but adds a creamy dimension to the sandwich.
• On one slice of bread, layer sliced peaches and drizzle with honey.
• On the other slice, place the white cheddar cheese.
• Spread butter on the outside of both slices of bread.
• Heat a pan or a panini press to medium-low heat. Place the sandwich in the pan or panini press and cook until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted to a golden brown. Adjust the heat to low if the bread is browning too quickly.
• Serve immediately while the cheese is still hot and melted.

Feel free to get creative and add some crispy bacon, a drizzle of balsamic glaze, or some basil ribbons for an extra flavour boost. Enjoy this unique and mouthwatering grilled cheese sandwich!

Grilled peaches with goat cheese and mint thyme honey

Ingredients:

• 1-2 sprigs fresh mint
• 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1-2 ounces goat cheese (optional)
• 2 ripe peaches
• Honey

Instructions:

• Preheat your grill to medium heat.
• Cut the peaches in half and remove the pit.
• Place the peaches, flesh-side down, on the grill. Grill for 4-6 minutes or until caramelized and warmed throughout.
• While the peaches are grilling, add the honey, fresh mint, and thyme to a small saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat to infuse the honey with the herbs.
• Once the peaches are grilled, strain the honey into a small jar.
• To serve, add a scoop of goat cheese to the middle of each peach (if desired). Drizzle with the infused honey.

Tips:

• A ripe peach will be slightly soft but still firm to the touch. It should have some wrinkles near the stem but avoid peaches that are completely wrinkled or bruised as these are likely overripe.
• You can also grill peaches on a stove-top grill pan or in a skillet. Alternatively, use a skillet to sear the flesh side of the peach until caramelized.
• In addition to goat cheese, blue cheese, burrata, and mascarpone also pair well with peaches.
• For a fun appetizer, serve these grilled peaches on a cheese board, layer them on crostini, or enjoy them as a tangy-sweet starter.
• For dessert, skip the goat cheese and serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Grilled peaches with walnut cheese and honey

Ingredients:

• Fresh peaches
• Soft walnut cheese
• Honey
• Fresh mint and parsley
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Oregano

Method:

• Preheat your grill or griddle pan to medium.
• Slice the peaches in half and remove the pit. You can keep them in halves or cut them into quarters.
• Spray or brush the griddle with olive oil and place the peaches, flesh-side down, on the grill. Grill for about 2 minutes.
• Flip the peaches and grill from all sides for another 2-3 minutes or until caramelized.
• Place the grilled peaches on a serving plate. Top each peach with slices of walnut cheese.
• Sprinkle with chopped mint and parsley.
• Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and oregano. Serve warm!

Tips:

• If you don't like walnut cheese, you can use cream cheese, goat cheese, or even ice cream instead.
• You can also use maple syrup or agave nectar instead of honey.
• For extra flavour, add some roughly chopped walnuts on top of the cheese.
• If serving as a dessert, skip the seasoning and serve with vanilla ice cream instead of cheese.

Grilled peaches with gorgonzola cheese, honey, and balsamic vinegar

Ingredients:

• Ripe freestone peaches
• Gorgonzola cheese
• Honey
• Balsamic vinegar
• Olive oil or avocado oil
• Salt and pepper (optional)
• Fresh herbs (optional)

Instructions:

• Preheat your grill to medium-high heat and ensure the grates are clean.
• Slice the peaches in half from top to bottom and remove the pits.
• Brush the cut sides of the peaches lightly with olive oil or avocado oil.
• Place the peaches on the grill, cut-side down, and cook for 1-2 minutes until grill marks appear.
• Turn the peaches over so the cut side is facing up. Fill the hole of each peach with crumbled gorgonzola cheese, then drizzle with honey and balsamic vinegar.
• Close the grill lid and cook until the peaches are softened but still retain their shape. This should take around 4-6 minutes, depending on the ripeness of your peaches.
• Carefully remove the peaches from the grill, ensuring the ingredients remain in the pit cavity.
• Serve warm as a side dish or dessert. Optionally, garnish with fresh herbs such as basil or rosemary.

Tips and Variations:

• If using clingstone peaches, you will need to cut around the pit with a paring knife. It is easier to do this with freestone peaches.
• You can substitute gorgonzola cheese with feta or goat cheese.
• For a sweeter dish, add a sprinkle of salt and pepper to taste.
• Grilled peaches also go well with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Frequently asked questions